Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-06-30
Famcllette's Letter.

For five years up to the Goth Of De.
cember, 1874, James Ribaud lived in a
little roadside cottage, within a stones
throw of post house on the highway
leading from the village Of Raincy tc
Paris He was Il little, hunchback old
man and miser. Report had it, that
his hoardings were nearly a million
francs. He had lived alone, but once
his house was entered by robbers and
himself beaten so terribly that his life
for Il time was despaired of. The rob.
bers got nothing for their pains. He
then resolved to live no longer alone.
He engaged a young and sharp-eyed
girl from Raincy as house servant. -
Unknown to him, the girl Fanchette
had lover, lolphe, a student whom
olce a week she was in the habit OF
shyly meeting at the post house. Once
a month she had holiday and passe,
It with her lover at Raincy. Ribaud,
50 the neighbors said, had once been a
rag picker in Paris. On tho morning
Of December 29th Fanchette had her
usual holiday, and went to Raincy, re.
tnrning to her miser. masters house at
nightfall.
During the night two of the hostlers
of the post house, who, by the light Of
lantern were playing cards in one Of
the stables, heard wild cry of agony,
;ss Of one in mortal terror. 1t seemed
to proceed from the direction of Hi.
baud's cottage. They lald down their
cards and listened, then went outside
All was dark at the cottage, not anoth.
er sound did they hear. They return,
ed to their game of cards. In the morn
ing they informed the landlord OF what
they heard.
"Stupids, why did you not 60 to the
cottage ? Now you 80 there and see il
all is right"
The hostlers obeyed, and, reaching
the cottage, to their surprise, found nc
one stirring. The miser was always ar
early riser. They knocked and called
loudly, but no answer came. They
tried the door. 1t was unlocked. In
the front room they beheld horrible
ghastly spectacle. They saw Ribaud
lying in the middle of the floor, his
throat cut, and his head beaten as il
with heavy bludgeon. Blood was
scattered and clotted on the floor, on
the walls, on the bed. In the rear room
ther heard woman's voice family cry.
ing, as if smothered, Help Help !!
There they saw Fanchette gagged, and
bound hand and foot, face downward
The two men ran out and gave the
alarm. The girl, Fanchette. was releas'
ed, and when sufficiently recovered told
her story. 1t was brief. She did not
see the old man murdered. She only
knew that just as she was preparing to
undress-the miser allowed her no light
"a heavy hand was clasped over her
mouth she was then thrown violently
backward. She tainted and knew no
more. When she came to conscious.
ness an hour later, she was helpless, all
was silent as tomb. She knew moth.
ing about his hidden boards. The cot.
tage was searched, but no valuables
were discovered. The police were at
fault, they could only vaguely surmise
The miser Was buried, the cottage razed
to the ground, and Fanchette returned
to Raincy.
On January End the account of the
murder was published in the Paris pa
pers. On the 3rd Il shabby old mai
came to the perfect of the Seine.
"Monsieur,' he said, ~ am rag
picker. / knew this poor Ribaud, The
miser. We worked together until hi
left Paris.'
"But what has that to do with th'
murder? Why come to me p
Because, Monsieur, l may aid II
finding his murderers. You see lie hae
one treasure Of whcih he and mysel
know. You remember that ten year
ago ieweler Of the Rue Biron lost ant